Featured Audience Ratings

• Tsubaki S

  
  Who could had imagine, way back in the 80's, that this would be the beginning of the revolution of the action genre as we know it these days. Sure, peckinpah was already doing slow mo shootouts before this, but Woo just took it to a whole different level. The film hasn't… More
  Who could had imagine, way back in the 80's, that this would be the beginning of the revolution of the action genre as we know it these days. Sure, peckinpah was already doing slow mo shootouts before this, but Woo just took it to a whole different level. The film hasn't aged so well, and the usual HK melodrama can get way too heavy in some parts. Woo would later top himself with both The Killer and Hard Boiled, but it can't be denied the importance this film had on the genre. Also, for making Chow Yun Fat one of the most recognizable icons of the genre. Boy do i miss the days of the heroic bloodshed.

• Al S

  
  An unstoppably explosive and magnificent action classic.A masterpiece of bullet-riddled carnage and mayhem that truly rocks from start to finish. An exhilarating action-packed thriller that's intensely powerful and emotionally enduring. A breathtaking and unforgettable movie.

• Khris N

  
  Classic! One of John Woo and Tsui Hark's earliest hits, this was when gun fu was becoming what it is. Though it wasn't perfected yet, this was an operatic drama of brotherhood, family, blood and crime, one of premier gangster films. The story revolved around two borthers,… More
  Classic! One of John Woo and Tsui Hark's earliest hits, this was when gun fu was becoming what it is. Though it wasn't perfected yet, this was an operatic drama of brotherhood, family, blood and crime, one of premier gangster films. The story revolved around two borthers, Kit, a cop, and Ho, an underworld figure. The older brother, Ho, makes a promise to his father to leave behind his life so that he and Kitwould not cross paths. But when he and his best friend, Mark, are betrayed, he suddenly finds himself in prison, his father killed by an assassin, his life in ruins. When finally released, Kit rejects him and threatens to imprison him and his old gang, disbelieving any attempt to lead an honest life. On the other hand, Kit is also chasing after Shing, who betrayed Ho before, who is know a Kingpin. Reuniting with Mark who was also rejected by the gangs, they set out for revenge and to regain their dignity, and save Kit from being killed. Simple and straightforward, dont expect the mass of violence and bullets as we are accustomed to in Woo's work... this was the prelude to the masterpieces of The Killer and Hard Boiled - but more storytelling than gun fighting, which is due to Hark's genius in creatvity. The story revolved around the oppurtunity of a second chance, the search for a better life and the importance of family and brotherhood. This is one of Chow Yun's breathrough roles, a classic figure who's charm and style was a winner on the screen, playing a crippled but deadly gunman. Watch this if you are a fan of Woo or Hark, or the series or Chow Yun. Or if you just like a good gangster film.

• Stella D

  
  so...it's dated, melodramatic, cheesy soundtrack, over the top action... somehow it all comes together to make a really entertaining film. just go with it. chow yun-fat steals every scene

• Lenny M

  
  Cool Movie but the soundtrack is a hinder to the scenes, not because it was in Chinese, but the strings sound 1930's esque, plus a lot of filler scenes.

• Sarah G

  
  This John Woo film tells the tale of Mark and Ho, friends and couriers for a Hong Kong crime syndicate with a large counterfeiting operation. Ho is double-crossed during a set-up and turns himself in to the police and Mark is shot during the firefight of a retribution hit. The plot is… More
  This John Woo film tells the tale of Mark and Ho, friends and couriers for a Hong Kong crime syndicate with a large counterfeiting operation. Ho is double-crossed during a set-up and turns himself in to the police and Mark is shot during the firefight of a retribution hit. The plot is complicated by the fact that Ho's younger brother, Kit, is a rookie cop whose reputation is tarnished by his gangster brother. When Ho gets out of prison, he wants to start a new life, free of crime. Unfortunately, he is haunted by his past, with the crime bosses leaning on him and Mark encouraging him to return to a life of crime as his partner. In typical Woo fashion, the various factions clash and our protagonists engage both the police and the gangsters in a bloody bullet-fest. John Woo's A Better Tomorrow(1986) was groundbreaking when first released because of the stylisitc depiction of the action scenes. Its success spurred a new genre in Hong Kong cinema known as Heroic Bloodshed. These films were usually gangster pics which is characterized by outrageous gun battles, heavy action, and high melodrama. It's also the film that started an array of copy-cat films, which were obviously not as sucessful. A Better Tomorrow focuses on the age old themes of honor and loyalty. The characters of Ho and Mark are honorable gangsters in an era of double crosses and mistrust. Ho and Mark are at odds with the changing value system and this puts them as people who are outmoded in their principles. Honor and loyalty in A Better Tomorrow(1986) is greatly emphasized as the marks of a good hearted person. Mark Gor is very honorable and loyal in his personalty compared to Shing who is the opposite. A Better Tomorrow (1986) was the gangster film that made John Woo one of the top directors in the Hong Kong film industry during the mid to late 80's. This one also made Yun-Fat Chow into a superstar and it revived the career of former Shaw Brothers star Lung Ti and boosted the career of pop singer/actor Leslie Cheung. The film I think was the first action film he did as well. I liked A Better Tomorrow A Lot. It's a lot better than The Killer,more stylistic, more meaning and you just generally feel for the characters more. The Direction is wonderful!. John Woo does a wonderful job here, with outstanding camera work, great angles, it's very stylish, and he kept the film at a very fast pace. Acting is also good and Chow Yun-Fat is just the coolest character you'll ever see. Not seeb muc of Ti Lung before so I'll definatly have to look out for more of his films. Now I'm going to watch more of John Woo! Recomended

• Aliyanto L

  
  Setting a new genre in HK movies history!

• Michael S

  
  Better story and emotion than part 2.

• Dean M

  
  This thriller of 1980's Hong Kong film is a raging torrent of blood, sweat and tears. More than just like <i>The Godfather</i> and <i>The Wild Bunch</i>.

• xGary X

  
  One of the original "heroic bloodshed" HK gangster movies, and it hasn't aged well. The first third is particularly schmaltzy and contrived, but the trademark Woo testoterone fuelled gun-battles are still effective.

• Caesar M

  
  Knowing it been a long time since I last saw an Asian crime drama, I decided to checkout a landmark film in the genre title A Better Tomorrow. It did not disappoint and delivers everything from a good John Woo movie. A Better Tomorrow is about brothers: one a successful… More
  Knowing it been a long time since I last saw an Asian crime drama, I decided to checkout a landmark film in the genre title A Better Tomorrow. It did not disappoint and delivers everything from a good John Woo movie. A Better Tomorrow is about brothers: one a successful counterfeiter (Lung Ti) and the younger a fledgling graduate of the HK police academy (Leslie Cheung). The plot revolves around the split when the younger brother learns the other is a criminal and the efforts of the criminal brother to reform into a normal life. The plot overall is well written capturing the struggles of the two brothers in different profession. Their relationship get most of the developments and easily the most interesting part of the plot. Though it does have some flaws, Yun-Chow Fat character seems important, but is never fully developed and only purpose is to killed people in the movie. The fast pace also works against it, sure it adds to the excitement, but it prevents the material from expanding into anything great. The casting something you don't need to worry about, whenever you got -Chow Fat and John Woo calibrating it's something good. A Better Tomorrow is a great crime drama that delivers on compelling drama and intense action. I would've end my review here, but there's a Korean remake of the same. Moo-jeok-ja (A Better Tomorrow in Korean) is slow to start, it took some 30 minutes before the first major action sequence. To fans of A Better Tomorrow there's nothing here that will surprise you anyway, except to raise an eyebrow or two when motivations and subplots deviate. And if there's one more element that this film sorely lacked, it's the very, very iconic theme tune that accompanied the Hong Kong original. This one pales in comparison and somehow turned out dull for the most parts. It's simply to similar to the original and is not recommended for fans of the original. Considering I couldn't find the Korean remake in the RT database, I'll give it a 30% for failing to separate itself from the original source material and a bad choice of casting. A Better Tomorrow is a great crime drama from John Woo and one of his works no doubt. This is definitely worth checking out for fans of John Woo or the genre. As for the Korean, Moo-jeok-ja, should be avoided since it's more of the same with a lack of new ideas.

• John B

  
  My first look at early John Woo. This is great action.

• Lesley N

  
  Cheesy soundtrack, cheesy acting, cheesy story... no this didn't work for me. The firework shooting scenes were the best bit, with Chow Yun Fat coming in a close second, and everything else dragging itself over the finishing line a poor third.

• Curt C

  
  For my money, Ti Lung steals the show from Chow Yun-Fat. Overwhelmingly, this is a John Woo film, which brings with it some good points and bad points. Entertaining, and the throwaway action scenes are mostly great, but didn't leave any lasting impression on me.

• Remi L

  
  Good stuff. Definitely had a handful of corny moments, but all in all, I loved this film. Clearly the theme is brotherhood and family and mending fences, but wrapped up in all of that are some memorable and excellent action sequences and memorable characters. I'd love to see this… More
  Good stuff. Definitely had a handful of corny moments, but all in all, I loved this film. Clearly the theme is brotherhood and family and mending fences, but wrapped up in all of that are some memorable and excellent action sequences and memorable characters. I'd love to see this made for an American audience but either way, its going in my collection.

• Daisy M

  
  Koreans actions films had always been my favorites, specially when I saw this one was directed by John Woo. It portraited the relationship between two brothers being on the opposite of the law. As with any John Woo films this one had also plenty of action, but the heart of the film… More
  Koreans actions films had always been my favorites, specially when I saw this one was directed by John Woo. It portraited the relationship between two brothers being on the opposite of the law. As with any John Woo films this one had also plenty of action, but the heart of the film was the story itself; and that's what made John Woo apart from all action directors. He sets the drama with well choreographed action sequences but also put a deep story into it, which raised the film to a higher level. The plot envolved older brother Hyuk who were separated at the boarder from his younger brother Chul and their mother. The mother was beaten to death while Chul became a prisoner. Hyuk became a gangster specialized in counterfeit money. He never gave up looking for his younger brother. He found him but he hate him, accusing that because of him they kill their mom.He started a career as a Police officer. In the end it became a story of love and loyalty, and the sacrifices necessary in life to make it work which made me drop some tears. Woo had perfect timing, not only in the action sequences, but with the drama as well. He got the most out of his actors as well. Lung Ti gives tremendous depth to the character of Hyuk, successfully giving his inner struggle trying to make amends with the brother he loved.Chow Yun-Fat gve a hell of a performance as Hyuks closest friend. An exciting, memorable film, surely super entertaining, a combination of action and drama, who no one could do it better then John woo.

• Jojo S

  
  One of my favorite gangster films of all time. Chow Yun-Fat rocks. The film touched based on every single issue about gangsters. It makes you want to become one of them bad guys and die like a badass.

• Jonny C

  
  Good movie. A Better Tomorrow got the ball rolling for director John Woo, as his fresh blend of melodrama, and heavily stylised action sequences put him firmly on the map. Chow Yun Fat gives a strong performance in an early role, and I thought even with the extremely cheesy morality… More
  Good movie. A Better Tomorrow got the ball rolling for director John Woo, as his fresh blend of melodrama, and heavily stylised action sequences put him firmly on the map. Chow Yun Fat gives a strong performance in an early role, and I thought even with the extremely cheesy morality moments, the story was pretty good. Overall a good action flick thats well worth your consideration.

• alan j

  
  classic early John Woo , exploring themes he would use again in later movies...to me, a bit more drama and less action, more of a moral tale...cool acting by Chow Yun Fat...

• Sean L

  
  good film that can't quite stand up to the glory of The Killer or Hard Boiled. Some elements of John Woo's style were not quite in place yet, but still a solid story.

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